Pivoted antenna element locking mechanism



Jan. 23, 1968 l. s. BLONDER PIVOTEJ). ANTENNA ELEMENT LOCKING MECHANISM Filed May 18, 1965 INVENTOR ISAAC S. BLONDER BY M FIGB

ATTOR NE YS United States Patent 3,365,722 PIVGTED ANTENNA ELEMENT LOCKING MECHANISM Isaac S. Blonder, West Orange, N.J., assignor to Blonder- Tongue Electronics, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 18, 1965, Ser. No. 456,613 Claims. (Cl. 343881) The present invention relates to antenna locking mechanisms, being more specifically directed to latch structures particularly adapted for enabling dipole elements to be folded to a stored position and pivotally locked in an operative open position.

Numerous types of pivoting and latching mechanisms have been evolved for use with antenna structures embodying arrays of dipole elements and the like, as in directive television reception, to enable the structures to be shipped in a collapsed condition and expanded into an operative position. Some devices of this character require the tightening and/ or insertion of screws or other fastening devices, which is undesirable where the unskilled user may in many cases be the installer. Structures of this character, moreover, once installed, are subject to the rigors of the outdoors, including bending and vibrating caused by wind, which at the very least may cause loosening of the dipole locking structure and possible resulting poor electrical contact, and at the worst, the snapping off of the dipole.

It is to the solution of these problems that the present invention is primarily directed, it being an object to provide a novel antenna locking structure that does not require ancillary fastening devices and that, when latched in operative position, rigidly holds the dipole elements against loosening.

A further object is to provide a novel latching and locking structure of more general utility, also.

Other and further objects will be described hereinafter and will be more particularly delineated in the appended claims. In summary, however, the invention contemplates, in one of its aspects, adjustability of the antenna element to a collapsed position adjacent and substantially along the direction of its support; and to a locked position at an angle and to a side of the support, with a resilient contacting blade engaging the underside of the element and a latch, carried by an element clamping member, resiliently locked to the support. Preferred constructional details are hereinafter set forth.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 of which is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating an antenna carried in collapsed or folded position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view during the partial opening of the antenna toward its operative position; and

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the antenna locked in its operative position.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cylindrical tubular antenna dipole element 1 is shown in a collapsed position adjacent and extending substantially along the direction or axis of a tubular conductive support 4 illustrated as of preferred substantially square or rectangular cross-section. A metal clamping member 3 externally surrounds and holds a portion of the element 1 near its inner end and is provided with a side extension 3 that terminates in a resilient downwardly and outwardly extending latch 3". Below the element 1 is a conductive mounting plate 2, shown folded over the top surface of the tubular support 4 and provided in a region adjacent such top surface, with a recessed latch-receiving aperture 4', and to the side of the support opposite the extension 3' of the clamping member 3, with an upwardly formed resilient contacting 3,355,722 Patented Jan. 23, 1958 ice blade 4", the purpose of which will later be made evident. A pivot pin 5 extends from its head at the top of the clamping member 3 through the same, transversely through the antenna element 1, through the plate 2 and transversely across the tubular support 4, terminating at its lower end at the outer wall of the undersurface of the support 4 in clinched ears 5". In order to enable the Wide range of collapsing and expanding action desirable for the purposes of the invention, the pivot pin is offset from the longitudinal center plane containing the longitudinal axis of the support 4, shown to the left of center in FIG. 1.

As the dipole element 1 is pivoted or adjusted outward (in the direction of the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3) to its open position, wherein it is to be locked at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of the support 4 (shown on the left side in FIGS. 2 and 3, but clearly reversible for extension on the right side, as well), the latch 3" of the clamping member 3 becomes resiliently pushed upward against the pivot pin 5 to ride over the right-hand forward edge of the mounting plate 2, FIG. 2, as the latch moves into alinement with its receiving aperture 4'. The upwardly formed contacting blade 4" of the mounting plate 4 begins resiliently to contact the under side of the dipole element 1 at 1". Continued rotation in the direction of the arrow, brings the latch 3" into such alinement and it resiliently snaps downward into the aperture 4, FIG. 3. By proper tolerances between the latch and latch aperture peripheral dimensions, an excellent region of electrical and mechanical connection to the support 4 is established. At such time, the blade 4" has bitten into the under side of the element 1 at 1", providing a second region of electrical and mechanically rigid contact. The free inner end (right-hand end in FIG. 3) will bear against the back right corner of the mounting plate insuring a stabilityproviding third region of support. Such a three-region suspension, moreover, accommodates for any looseness in the pivot and dipole connections, preventing rattling, insuring electrical contact, and resisting any tendency to loosen by vibration in use. To re-open the latch and pivot the antenna element back to its collapsed position, it is merely necessary resiliently to spring out the latch 3" by a coin or other implement.

Though the invention has been described in connection with its application to an antenna element, clearly other types of elements may be similarly locked or latched; and further modifications will also occur to those skilled in the artall such being considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Antenna locking mechanism having, in combination, an antenna element; a conductive support for carrying the element provided with a mounting plate having a recessed latch-receiving aperture and, to one side of the support, an upwardly formed contacting blade; a clamping member for holding the antenna element near one end and provided with a resilient downwardly formed latch; and pivot means secured through the clamping member, antenna element and mounting plate to the support; the antenna element being adjustable to a collapsed position adjacent and substantially along the direction of the sup port with the contacting blade and latch extending from opposite sides of the support, and the antenna element being pivotable to a locked position at an angle and to the said side of the support with the contacting blade resiliently electrically and mechanically engaging the underside of the antenna element near the clamping member therefor and the latch resiliently locked within the said aperture.

2. Antenna locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and in which, in the said locked position, means is pro- 3 vided for ensuring engagement between the said one end of the antenna element and the mounting plate to provide a third region of locked support to the two regions provided by the said contacting blade and resiliently locked latch.

3. Antenna locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and in which the pivot means is located to one side of the center of the support.

4. Antenna locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and in which the support is of tubular construction, the said mounting plate is secured on one surface of the support, and the said aperture is alined with the support.

5. Antenna locking mechanism as claimed in claim 4 and in which the pivot means extends from the clamping member transversely through the support, oflset from the center thereof, and is clinched to the undersurface of the support.

6. Element locking mechanism having, in combination, a support for carrying the element provided with a mounting plate having a recessed latch-receiving aperture and, to one side of the support, an upwardly formecl'contacting blade; a clamping member for holding the element near one end and provided with a resilient downwardly formed latch; and pivot means secured through the clamping member, the element and mounting plate to the support; the element being adjustable to a collapsed position adjacent and substantially along the direction of the support with the contacting blade and latch extending from opposite sides of the support, and the element being pivotable to a locked position at an angle and to the said side of the support with the contacting blade resiliently engaging the underside of the element near'the clamping member 4 therefor and the latch resiliently locked within the said aperture.

7. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 6 and in which, in the said locked position, means is provided for ensuring engagement between the said one end of the element and the mounting plate to provide a third region of locked support to the two regions provided by the said contacting blade and resiliently locked latch.

8. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 6 and in which the pivot means is located to one side of the center of the support.

9. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 6 and in which the support is of tubular construction, .the said mounting plate is secured on one surface of the support, and the said aperture is alined with the support.

10. Locking mechanism as claimed in claim 9 and in which the pivot means extends from the clamping member transversely through the support, otiset from the center thereof, and is clinched to the undersurface of the support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,044 3/1963 Klancnik 343881 XR 3,278,212 10/1966 Kolb' 343881 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,336,214 7/1963 France.

HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner.

M. NUSSBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. ANTENNA LOCKING MECHANISM HAVING, IN COMBINATION, AN ANTENNA ELEMENT; A CONDUCTIVE SUPPORT FOR CARRYING THE ELEMENT PROVIDED WITH A MOUNTING PLATE HAVING A RECESSED LATCH-RECEIVING APERTURE AND, TO ONE SIDE OF THE SUPPORT, AN UPWARDLY FORMED CONTACTING BLADE; A CLAMPING MEMBER FOR HOLDING THE ANTENNA ELEMENT NEAR ONE END AND PROVIDED WITH A RESILIENT DOWNWARDLY FORMED LATCH; 